Athletic Man by La Rive

Great quality for the price; this Polish brand offers a solid proposal, and here you can find it at a ridiculous price, even under $10. The scent is spicy, woody, aromatic, masculine, and has a certain formality yet remains versatile. On my skin, sandalwood and labdanum stand out—a aromatic combo I hadn’t encountered before that places it in a classic area, more like the nineties. The performance is correct, and the projection is too, given the sharp character of its wood; it’s nothing flashy or trendy-sweet, but rather a traditional fragrance for those who enjoy aromatic notes in perfumery. I’d even say this Athletic Man smells more expensive than it costs; it’s quite dignified. Gentlemen can’t go wrong with the price, and they’d add it to their collection as a good perfume that doesn’t even try to be one but delivers anyway. Cheers.

I tried it and bought it: instant love at first sniff. It has everything I look for in a scent since it’s super versatile for everyday wear. I’m usually pretty hesitant about aquatic, ozonic, citrus, or blends of those unless they have a strong spicy or woody backbone to give them character. It’s tough, but I can’t think of a fragrance that even comes close; I suppose I won’t feel embarrassed if someone asks what I’m wearing or tries to compare it to another brand… I recommend it, but test it on your skin first to check compatibility.

I’ve tried several from this line and will keep buying due to the great quality. You should check the reviews because some are more intense than others; LA RIVE Athletic Man is like the luxury EDP version of ADIDAS Active Bodies (Eau de Toilette Concentrate). It’s exquisite with excellent longevity for the price-to-quality ratio, definitely a good investment. Now, the bottle itself has better design than the Adidas one, but it still lacks a bit more appeal or modernity since the fragrance is so good and it’s just a matter of details. On a scale of 1 to 7, I give it a 6.7. As always, if anyone wants the inside scoop, feel free to ask, and I’ll tell you about the others I’ve purchased. Cheers.